Undergarment



Feb. 11, 1941. N, MELCHER 2,231,451

UNDERGARMENT Filed Aug. 29, 1939 Ifwenlfof l Nang/Wekker Patented Feb. 1l, 19141 UNITE STATES anni rarsar UNDERGARMENT Application August 29, 1939, Serial No. 292,386

4 Claims.

'This invention relates to a corselette and, more specifically, to a combination brassire and corset type of undergarment, and has for its primary object a novel construction of brassire and a 5 novel construction of corsets so interconnected',

and interrelated in such a novel manner, that the garment may be more easily and more quickly put on and, when in place, will more effectively support the bust.

An object of the invention resides in the specific manner of constructing the brassire and the corset, and interconnecting the two so that the brassire will be yieldably connected to the corset in spaced relation to the upper edge of the front portion thereof, whereby the bust is prevented from being subjected to pressure in directions that would tend to interfere with the healthy development thereof, or the normal shape of the bust.

Another object of the invention resides in the novel manner of constructing the corset of elastic and inelastic panels, and elastically attaching the brassire to the corset so that there will be provided an elastic action between the bust and the corset in the use of the garment.

A feature of the invention resides in attaching stocking fasteners directly to the elastic panels of the corset, and connecting the brassire directly to the elastic panels, so that the down pull of the stockings will not be communicated to the brassire, thereby relieving the bust of a drag down feeling.

Another feature of the invention resides in constructing the brassire of two sections, detachably connected together and yiel'dably connected to the corset in spaced relation with the corset, so

as to allow the brassire to be readily opened and,

further prevent the brassire from being drawn out of its proper shape by the fiexing of the corset in the use thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front View of the corselette in applied position.

Figure 2 is a rear View of the corselette in ap- This drag down action has an unhealthy effect upon the wearer in that it promotes a down-pulling of the bust, thereby creating pendulous busts and the formation of hard spots or glandular tissues in the bust.

The type of garment herein disclosed is so designed that the above objections are overcome in that the brassire has a yieldable connection with the corset and is arranged in spaced relation with the upper portion thereof. This effect is enhanced due to the novel construction and arrangement of the two-Way stretch panels, which form the only connection between the bust and the corset, and between the corset and the stockings of the wearer.

It is of greatest importance that the corset portion o f the garment have the required elastic contracting action about the body of the wearer during the many angular actions of the body, and if the brassire is to be relieved of undue pressure, it is important that the brassire be relieved in various directions without causing the brassire n sections to change their position in accordance with the flexing action of the corset.

It is also of great importance that the pull of the stockings in the bending of the knee of the wearer be prevented from being communicated to the brassire sections, and this is readily accomplished by attaching the garter fasteners directly to the elastic panels of the corset at the lower edge thereof, the two sections of the brassire being directly connected to the upper portion of the elastic panels.

Referring to the drawing, showing one of the many modifications of my invention, the numeral I designates the brassire, and the numeral 2 designates the corset. The corset consists of a back panel 3 and a front panel 4, both preferably fabricated of inelastic yarn so as to be inelastic, but it is to be understood that elastic yarn may be incorporated in the front and back panels to give one-way circumferential' stretch thereto, if desired.

The back and front panels 3 and l are interconnected together by the side panels 5, either by a line of stitching, as indicated at 5', or by any other suitable means Well known in the trade.

These panels are fabricated of elastic yarn so as to have two-way elastic stretch in directions longitudinally and circumferentially of the garment. These panels may be fabricated in many ways well known in the trade but, for the purpose of this invention, they are either warp knitted or weft knitted of elastic yarns,the elastic yarns being so interconnected with each other that they may be subject to lateral stretch as Well as longitudinal stretch, to provide the side panels with two-way elastic stretch.

The back panel 3 has a V-shaped opening 6 covered by a V-shaped elastic insert 1 for yieldably drawing the upper edge portion of the corset about the waist of the wearer. Attention is directed to the fact that each side panel 5 is provided with a triangular extension` 8 to which is directly attached the brassire.

The brassire consists of two sections 9 and 0 fabricated of any suitable material and given the required shape to conform with the curvature of the bust. The sections 9 and I have their opposing edges detachably connected by a fastener element l and, further, each section has an end edge i2 directly attached by stitches to the triangular extension 3 in such a manner that the lower edge i3 of each section is spaced from the upper edge i4 of the front panel fi. Thus it will be appreciated that the sole connection between the brassire and the corset is provided by the upper end portion of the elastic side panels, and a space is provided between the brassire and the upper edge portion of the corset so as to yieldably provide the proper interengagement of the brassire with the bust of the wearer. l

To complete the invention, elastic shoulder straps I5 are provided, connected to the corset and to the brassire and, further, garter fasteners I6 are connected to the lower portion of the corset. The garter fasteners I6 are preferably attached directly to the elastic side panels so that the clown pull of the stockings in the use thereof will be yieldably absorbed by the side panels and will not be communicated to the brassire.

A slide fastener Il is provided for partly connecting and disconnecting an edge portion of the front panel with an edge portion of one of the side panels. This fastener provides a partial opening of the corset, to facilitate the pulling thereof over the legs and hips of the wearer.

. Due to the fact that the brassire sections are spaced and completely detached from the upper edge portion of the front panel 4, and inasmuch as their sole connection to the corset is provided by the elastic panels, it will be appreciated that the bust is positively relieved of a down pulling action in the use of the garment. Further, the sections may be readily disconnected from each other to facilitate nursing.

Of course, it is to be understood that the specific design of the panels and their interconnection, and the specific design of the parts of the brassire, may be changed in many ways, without departing from the invention. Therefore, any modifications coming within the scope of the subjoined claims are to be considered Within the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is: y

1. A corselette comprising, in combination, a brassire and a corset, said corset consisting of a front panel and a back panel, and a pair of side panels directly attached to the front and back panels, and fabricated entirely of elastic yarn to have two-Way elastic stretch; said brassire consisting of two sections, each having one edge directly and solely attached to a side panel in spaced relation to the upper edge portion of the front panel; and a fastener connecting the sections of the brassire together.

2. A corselette comprising, in combination, a brassire and a corset, said corset consisting of a front panel of inelastic fabric, a back panel of inelastic fabric, and two side panels connecting the front and back panels together and fabricated of elastic yarn to have two-way elastic stretch; an elastic insert in the upper edge portion` of the back panel; stocking fasteners attached to the lower edge of the side panels, each of said side panels having a triangular extension at the upper portion thereof; said brassire consisting of two sections detachably connected together and each having an edge directly and solely attached to a triangular extension of a side panel; shoulder straps attached to said side panels and to the brassire sections; and a slide fastener for detaching a portion of one of the side panels from a portion of the front panel.

3. A corselette comprising, in combination, a brassire and a corset, said corset consisting of a back and front panel, and side panels connecting the front and back panels together and fabricated of elastic yarn to have two-way elastic stretch, and each provided with a substantial V- shaped extension projecting above the top edge of the front panel, said brassire connected directly and solely to said V-shaped extensions in spaced relation to the tcp edge of the front panel.

4. A corselette comprising, in combination, a brassire and a corset, said corset consisting of an inelastic front panel, an inelastic back panel, and a pair of side panels connected directly to the front and back panels and fabricated of elastic yarn to have two-way elastic stretch longitudially and circumferentially of the corset, each side panel being provided with a V-shaped extension projecting upwardly beyond the top edge of the front panel; said brassire consisting of two sections, each having one end directly andv solely attached to an edge of one of said V-shaped extensions whereby the sections are yieldably supported in spaced relation with the top edge of the front panel, said V-shaped eX- tensions providing yieldable adjustment of the sections in directions horizontally and vertically of the corset; a fastener for detachably connecting the remaining ends of the brassire sections together; and shoulder straps connecting the brassire sections to the back panel.

NANCY MELCHER. 

